Frances Etta Van Gorden, age 97, of Tunkhannock, PA, passed away on Monday evening, July 13, 2026, at the Embassy of Tunkhannock, PA.

Born in Laceyville, Pennsylvania, on February 13, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Bruce Benscoter and the late Hilda LaFrance Benscoter. Growing up in Laceyville, Frances graduated from the Laceyville High School Class of 1947.

After high school, Frances would have a long working career. In her younger days, Frances would work at the original Whipple's store as a telephone operator for the entire town of Laceyville. From there, she would work for the Mindy Sue Dress Factory in Laceyville, starting as a seamstress and eventually becoming the Floor Lady. Frances would also work at the Meshoppen Dress Factory as one of the Floor Ladies. Following the closure of the dress factory in Meshoppen, she would take work as the secretary for 87 Sales and Service in Russel Hill. She also owned and operated the Trail Inn in Meshoppen for many years with her former husband Richard Kiah Van Gorden.

Following retirement, you could find Frances tending to her many hobbies of gardening, crocheting, and spending time with her loving family. However, her many years as an artful seamstress never left her, and she would continue to make many different articles of clothing and quilts. You were very lucky to own one of the many quilts that Frances had handcrafted with love and devotion over the years.

Frances is survived by her daughter, Muriel "Cookie" (Kern) Dibble; her grandchildren, Joshua (April) Dibble, Sarrah (Bucky) Camburn, Carly (Shawn) Robinson, Kerra Van Gorden, and Kiah (Lindsay) Van Gorden; her great-grandchildren, Isaac Dibble, Lydia Robinson, and Samantha (Eli) Cross; her three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Frances is preceded in death by her son, James Richards Van Gorden, and her siblings, Loren (Corine) Benscoter, Anita Humphries, Neil (Janice) Benscoter, and Sharon Carter.

A Celebration of Life for Frances will be held at a later date at the convenience of her family.

Arrangements were made through the Sheldon Funeral Homes, 8206 Main St., Meshoppen, PA. Online condolences may be made at www.sheldonfunerlhomes.com